The birth of science fiction is considered by some to stretch all the way back to the age of Shelly’s Frankenstein. Since then, there have been some hugely influential writers in the science fiction genre. Here is my personal list, both of the modern age and the old.
Sci Fi writers you need on your bookshelves
Whether you’re just delving into the wonderful world of sci-fi or already have shelves straining under Hamilton’s epics, there are always a few writers you still need to discover. Take a look through this list to see which writers you may have missed from your collection.
H.G Wells
I may as well get one of the all time greats out of the way, to begin with. H.G. Wells is responsible for some of the greatest works of science fiction literature of all time, with some being adapted for film and radio. His most famous work is no doubt War of The Worlds, but other notable entries include The Invisible Man and The Time Machine.
He was a prominent futurist who predicted many of the technologies we have today. He foresaw the use of the Atomic Bomb, satellite television, space travel, and many other technologies far beyond his time. The granddaddy of science fiction is, without a doubt, one of the most influential science fiction writers.
Essential reading:
- War of The Worlds
- The Invisible Man
- The Time Machine
- The Island of Doctor Moreau
- The World Set Free
Mary Shelly
Although not the most prolific sci-fi writer of all time, Mary Shelley can certainly be considered among the most influential. Taking a look at Frankenstein, published in 1818, we can clearly see the first elements of science fiction in literature. Her opening of the door to fiction, combined with the marvels of science, paved the way for the entire genre.
If you’re interested in where it all began, Frankenstein is a wonderful work. It is steeped in horror, social observation, fascination with new and barely understood technology, and the fear of the unknown.
Philip K. Dick
Whereas some of Philip K. Dick’s books are essential reading for anyone looking for influential sci-fi writers, some are reserved for completionists. Dicks various works, such as Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Scanner Darkly, and The Man in The High Castle, have been adapted into film and TV. Bladerunner, based on Electric Sheep, is widely considered to be one of the best science fiction films of all time.
However, Philip K. Dick is a very stylised writer, rarely conforming to traditional narratives or writing styles. This can certainly make some of his lesser-known works a difficult read for the uninitiated. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t delve into his work, though. Once you get over his bizarre approach to narrative, his books will change your perception of reality.
Essential reading:
- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep
- Scanner Darkly
- Valis
- A Maze of Death
- The Man in The High Tower
William Gibson
Working through Neuromancer by William Gibson often requires the reader to take a quick minute to remember how long ago the novel was published. This runs true for many of his varied works. Gibson’s ability to predict and expand on the future of technology is uncanny. His understanding of just what the Internet and electronic connections would be and the results of it all are still being unraveled today.
For me, Gibson’s writing style is everything I want from a science fiction book. He drops you into a world that is unexplained, into a narrative already well underway, with concepts you have to learn as you go. The depth and ferocity of Gibson’s writing result in a narrative that barely gives room to breathe. It’s only once you’ve put the book down that you realize just how much he has fit into the relatively short stories.
Neuromancer is credited with a lot of what made up the theory behind The Matrix films. He accurately described the internet, cyberspace, meta universes, and international electronic communication way before it was ever available.
Essential reading:
- Neuromancer
- Count Zero
- Burning Chrome
- Mona Lisa Overdrive
- Archangel (Graphic Novel)
Douglas Adams
When everything starts a little too bleak and serious on your science fiction bookshelf, take this influential British writer for a spin. Douglas Adams takes the seriousness, mostly, out of science fiction and yet still paints a wonderfully rich and vibrant world that will scratch the itch of any sci fi fan.
Although the world of Arthur Dent in Hitchikers Guide to The Galaxy isn’t one of intergalactic space battles, and multi-planet politics, the ‘trilogy of five’ is full of amazing concepts and stories. Each book expands upon the universe created by Adams, producing some truly fascinating characters, and some hilarious situations. There are very few writers in the science fiction genre who have the dry humour and creativity of Douglas Adams.
Essential reading:
- Just start at the beginning of The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy and go from there.
Jules Verne
Many of the books of Jules Verne are read to children as they grow up, or used as educational studies. There is a good reason for that. His works are full of imagination, creativity, and marvel. The worlds of Jules Verne are distinctly of years long passed when science was still more or less only fiction.
Verne wrote some of the most gripping and exciting adventure stories of his time. Even now, they are considered essential reading for most lovers of literature, with most having delved into at least one. He pushed the boundaries of what science was capable of at the time, resulting in some truly fascinating works of science fiction.
Essential reading:
- Journey to The Center of The Earth
- Around The World in 80 Days
- Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea
- From The Earth To The Moon + Around The Moon
Isaac Asimov
The reach of Asimov’s works in both the Foundation and Robots series goes far beyond the scope of his books. The impact of his theories and ideas are implemented in everything from Hollywood to theoretical papers.
His works are remarkably difficult to adapt to screen due to their complexity of concept and theory. However, I consider them essential reading and Asimov one of the most influential science fiction writers of all time.
The Foundation series focuses on a universe that has expanded across the Galaxy. It is a society based on predictions made by a socio-scientist eons before. He created the Sheldon Principle, which was able to predict big events and advise on how to deal with them. The many books, both in the Foundation and Robotics series, tackle some huge and fascinating issues and subjects. As a writer, he is almost unmatched, and as a social commentator and world builder, he is among the best.
Essential reading:
- Foundation Series
- Robots Series
- Prelude to Foundation
Arthur C. Clark
There are few writers of his era as good at describing the vast nothingness of space as Arthur C. Clark. His world-renowned book, 2001, A Space Odyssey, was lovingly depicted on the big screen by Kubrick, giving image to the amazing science fiction novel written by one of the most influential writers of his time.
Besides this classic, Clark wrote many other novels, often dealing with space travel, alien ships, and first contact. His series of Rama books examines the idea of aliens entering our local space and the implications of their presence. Childhood’s End is a fascinating look at the arrival of a seemingly benevolent alien race, positioning themselves above Earth in an attempt to mediate international relations.
Arthur C. Clark isn’t afraid to write books of vast scale and significance. His narratives can span decades, sometimes resulting in catastrophic changes. This scope is what makes him so influential in the science fiction genre.
Essential reading:
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
- Rendezvous with Rama
- Childhoods End
- The Nine Billion Names of God
Margaret Atwood
As an author, she has rooms full of literary awards, and every one of them is well-earned. She can be considered among the best writers in many genres alongside her massive influence in modern science fiction. Some of her most famous works, like the Handmaid’s Tale trilogy, have been adapted for TV to huge success, and many of her other worlds sit among the best in the genre.
Margaret Atwood approaches her science fiction in a unique and affecting way in both her Handmaid’s Tale and MaddAddam trilogies. The verisimilitude she loves to embrace in her work brings the realism of the situations very close to home. Atwoods various tales are often seen as sociopolitical observations as well as gripping pieces of science fiction. Atwood writes with a gravitas and realism that leaves lasting impressions.
Essential reading:
- Handmaids Tale
- The Testaments
- Oryx and Crake
- The Year of The Flood
Iain M. Banks
The Culture Series, written by Iain M. Banks, flexes his impeccable ability to create a vast and complex universe while still keeping the intricacies of human emotion at its very core. Banks never loses sight of what it is to be human or what we consider to be important. Throughout his Culture Series, he tackles everything from possible galactic destruction to gender-swapping ex-lovers entangled in joint pregnancies. Nothing is outside the scope of his imagination.
Iain M. Banks is a prime example of what is possible when a creative author is given the freedom of science fiction. Few series of books broach quite as many concepts and get quite as experimental as Banks does. He is, for me, one of the most influential modern science fiction writers out there.
Essential reading:
- Player of Games
- Excession
- Use of Weapons
- The Hydrogen Sonata
- Against a Dark Background
Ursula K. Le Guin
No list would be complete without the multi-award-winning science fiction writer Ursula K. Le Guin and her enormous influential impact on science fiction. Le Guin has written some magnificent pieces of science fiction, delving deep into a number of complex social and political issues. Her seminal work, Left Hand of Darkness, unpacks the issues surrounding sex, identity, and gender. The Dispossessed, another one of her essential books, tackles capitalism, the advancement of education, and the values of freedom, among many other issues.
Ursula K. Le Guin is a writer with real weight to her writing. Her books can be a little heavy for first-time science fiction readers, but no fan should be without at least a few of her incredibly important works. She tackles huge societal issues and paints them over wonderful science fiction backdrops like few others.
Essential reading:
- The Dispossessed
- Left Hand of Darkness
- The Lathe of Heaven
